Credit: ABCPLUS Studio

This visionary project demonstrates how contemporary hospitality architecture can transcend traditional boundaries, creating spaces where human wellness and environmental regeneration exist in perfect symbiosis
– Damiano Capuzzo, partner at architects ABCPLUS Studio

Italian architecture firm ABCPlus Studio has revealed plans for an environmentally-conscious mixed-use destination near the coastal town of Bibione, which is located between Venice and Trieste on the Adriatic coast.

Commissioned by Italian real estate company, Bibione Darsena SRL, which also operates marinas, the project is scheduled to break ground in 2027 following completion of all required environmental and landscape approvals. The estimated opening date is 2030.

The scheme will see significant public infrastructure investment of €6 million (US$7 million, £5 million), to deliver a marina, waterfront infrastructure, pedestrian pathways and a hydraulic safeguarding system.

The development will include a 100-room hotel, residential units and off-grid hospitality and wellness facilities.

Estimated costs are €16.5 million (US$19 million, £14 million) for the hotel, €8.5 million (US$9.8 million, £7.2 million) for the residential development and €6.5 million (US$7.5 million, £5.5 million) for hospitality and wellness.

Sustainability forms the cornerstone of the design philosophy for this 50-hectare development of protected wetlands, which has panoramic sea views and overlooks a saltwater lagoon.

The hospitality concept merges responsible tourism with fragile ecosystem protection and an integrated culture of wellness throughout all facilities.

The architectural layout will ensure all hospitality facilities become integral components of the landscape, actively protecting biodiversity, water systems and ecological networks. Every structure will adhere to cradle-to-cradle principles, enabling its complete removal and site restoration when necessary.

The hotel and spa experience

The low-impact hotel and accommodations will be integrated among natural sand dunes and indigenous vegetation, drawing architectural inspiration from traditional elevated stilt houses. The hotel will feature terraces that provide essential shading to a recessed glazed façade, complemented by green roofs and reflective surfaces designed to minimise thermal impact.

Micro lodges scattered throughout adjacent wetlands will be accessible via raised walkways that preserve the delicate ecology beneath. Each lodge will operate as a fully energy-independent unit, in line with the project’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

The property’s botanical spa will sit at the heart of the development, in a network of open-air pavilions situated among mature pine trees and meandering freshwater canals.

The spa has been designed to create a connection to nature, extending guests’ physical and emotional wellness experience through direct landscape immersion. All spa facilities will operate off-grid, powered by solar energy and will also utilise harvested rainwater.

The spa will be organised into three zones, a main spa centre housed within a glass and steel structure, offering thermal treatments, such as hammams and thermal baths and with tropical plantings chosen due to the location's naturally humid micro-climate.

A sound pavilion will create a contemplative sanctuary constructed from untreated larch and dedicated to yoga and meditation. The acoustic walls will be engineered to allow the natural sounds of wind, water and ambient nature to filter through, creating an immersive sensory environment.

Salt treatment facilities, including massage and treatment rooms, will be positioned on panoramic relaxation decks suspended within the pine canopy, offering unobstructed views of the sea.

“This visionary project demonstrates how contemporary hospitality architecture can transcend traditional boundaries, creating spaces where human wellness and environmental regeneration exist in perfect symbiosis,” explains Damiano Capuzzo, partner at architects ABCPLUS Studio.

“Our design philosophy centres on guiding guests to discover and connect with the extraordinary indigenous territory that surrounds us, transforming the act of wellness into a journey of environmental discovery and cultural appreciation.”